Water lifting device



Oct. 18, 1960 Filed Dec. 4, 1957 E. W. MOR EHEAD WATER LIFTING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Enoch Watson More/read 1 N VEN TOR.

wadin BY ym fiMg Oct. 18, 1960 E. w. MOREHEAD WATER LIFTING DEVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1957 Fig. 5

Enoch Watson More/read 1N VEN TOR.

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1 tes This device relates generally to attachments for water wells, andmore particularly to a novel type of water lifting device for a shallowwell or bored well.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a water liftingdevice for use in conjunction with wells, which does not require theconstant running of a motor when water is being drawn therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide a water lifting devicewherein water is elevated from a well to a water storage tank, and meansare provided for constantly applying pressure within this tank, so thatat any time water may be withdrawn from the tank, such as by means ofpipes, without the necessity for a motor to be running while water isbeing so withdrawn, as is the case with conventional types of wellpumps.

A further object of this invention is to provide a water lifting devicewhich is completely automatic, so that a constant level of water will bemaintained between minimum and maximum points, so that ordinarily nomanual intervention is necessitated.

An even further object of this invention is to provide a water liftingdevice which may be used with both dug wells and bored wells.

Yet a further object of the invention is to produce a simple andinexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective forthe purpose for which it is designed.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the device,illustrating the use of my invention in conjunction with a shallow ordug well;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the spider to be used in conjunctionwith my device for constantly urging the piston downwardly;

Figure 3 is a horizontal view of the bottom of the storage tank, takensubstantially along the plane defined by reference line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of my device, as it would be used inconjunction with a bored well; and

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the piston and Water storagetank comprising a basic part of the present invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral generallydesignates the storage tank comprising the present invention,illustrating the same mounted in or on top of a well 12, in Figures 1and 4 respectively. A piston 14 is inserted into tank 10, to vary theair pressure within the tank. The piston 14 is elevated by drive means16, and is urged downwardly by resilient means 18. A frame 20 supportsthe whole assembly.

aren't Patented Oct. 18, 1960 The water storage tank 10 is constructedof an open cylinder 22, having a water inlet pipe 24 connected to thebottom thereof, and a water outlet pipe 26, is connected to the lowerend of the side wall of the tank. A foot valve 28 interrupts inlet pipe24, and a check valve 30 interrupts outlet pipe 26.

Looking now more particularly at Figure 1, it may be seen that waterstorage tank 10 is located internally of a shallow dug well 12. Thewater tank is maintained in this position by means of inwardly extendingbrackets 32, upon which the tank rests and is bolted, and hangers 34,which extend upwardly from angle irons 36 connected about the upper endof tank 10. A pair of channel members 37 constitute a base for framemembers 38. Extending inwardly from. the upper end of the members 37 arebrackets 40, to which hangers 34 are adjustably connected, so that itmay now be seen that tank 10 is firmly held in position within the upperportion of the well. A plate 41 is connected to the upper ends of framemembers 38, and has a centrally located vertical opening 42 formedtherethrough, into which is fitted a bearing 44 having a projectingcollar 46 about the upper end. A shaft 48 is vertically, slidablyjournalled in bearing 44, and extends upwardly through plate 41, as wellas downwardly itno water storage tank 10. At the lower end of shaft 48is connected a piston which is constructed of a cylindrical-like member50 having a circular side wall and flat top and bottom walls. A flexiblegasket 52 having a downwardly bent flange portion is connected to thelower end of cylinder 50, and another gasket 47 is connected to theupper end thereof. Gasket 52 is connected by means of a plate 54 lockingthe flexible member 52 to the cylinder by means of bolt 56. The lowerend of shaft 48 is threaded as at 49 and has a washer 53 connected nearthe end, so as to abut against a plate 55. Threaded portion 49 isconnected to the upper end of cylinder 50' and, by means of plate 55 theflexible member 53 is connected to the cylinder.

An upwardly projecting post 58, see Figure 4, is connected to plate 41,and has a horizontal beam 60 connected at the upper end thereof. Agrooved pulley 62 is rotatably mounted on beam 60. A strand 64 of wireor other strong material is disposed about grooved pulley 62, and has astirrup 66 located at one end thereof, which stirrup is connected to theupper end of shaft 48. The other end of wire 64 is driven by means ofwinch 68, which is in turn driven by motor 70. Thus, it may be seen thatwhen winch 68 is activated the wire 64 will be wound upon the winch, andthus shaft 48 will be elevated, elevating piston 14 therewith andcausing a suction within tank 10 which will draw water 72 into the tank12 upwardly through inlet pipe 24, and this water will be held in thetank by means of foot valve 28. The motor and winch 70 and 68respectively may be supported by any suitable means, but are shownsupported upon a table 74 which is mounted upon angle iron 76 which isattached to one of frame members 38, and a base member 78, which is alsoattached to one of frame members 37, and supports the outer end of thetable 74 through the medium of a channel beam 80.

In Figure 2 is illustrated a spider 82. which is con structed of asleeve 84 having radial arms 86 extending outwardly from the upper endthereof. The sleeve 84 is fixed upon shaft 48 by means of setscrew 88.At the outer ends of each arm 86 a longitudinally extending slot 90 isformed vertically through the arms. Strong springs 92 are adjustablyfastened in slots 90 of arms 86 by any suitable means, such as by hooks94 having a threaded shank passing upwardly through slot 90, which isfixed in place by a nut 96. The lower end of spring 92 is connected toloops or eyes 98 which are fastened to top plate 41.

The piston 14 is provided with any suitable type of limiting means whichwill automatically limit the uppermost and lowermost position of thepiston, so that the piston will always be between a predetermined range,and the water storage tank will always have a predetermined amount ofWater in the tank ranging between a set maximum and minimum. Forinstance, illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 4 of the drawings, maybe seen an upper contact 102 and a lower contact 104, which are in sucha position as to be contacted by projection 100 on shaft 48, upon upwardor downward movement of the shaft. Wires from contacts 102 and 104 leadinto control box 106 which is provided with suitable switches to controlthe operation of the motor 70, the switches being well known in the art.

In use, the machine when first set up, will be manually started, so thatas piston 14 rises in the water storage tank, a suction is created whichwill tend to force water 72 in the well up into the storage tank. Whenthe piston reaches a position near the top of the tank 10, theprojection 100 will touch contact 102, and shut of]? motor 70, thusstopping the actuation of the winch 68. Then, as water is withdrawn bymeans of pipe 26, the water level in tank 10 will go down, and thepiston will move downwardly accordingly, both because of its own weight,and because of strong springs 92 urging it downwardly. When the pistonreaches a position close to the bottom of tank 10, projection 100 willtouch contact 104 and the motor will be actuated which will drive winch68 and serve to raise piston 14, until projection 100 again contactselement 102. Thus, the cycling will continue and the operation will beautomatic. In this way, a motor 70 does not have to be constantlyactuated in order for water to be withdrawn from pipe 26, as the case inconventional type of water lifting units. For instance, if water storagetank 10 were made to hold 150 gallons, and this amount were enough for afamilys needs, for one day, it would be seen that the motor 70 would beactuated automatically once each day.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed. I

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A device for delivering water from a well comprising a cylindrical waterstorage tank, mounting means supporting said tank in a well and with itsbottom end above the water level of a well, a suction line having itslower end provided with a foot valve and immersed in the water in thewell and communicating with the interior of said tank at the lower endthereof, a non-return discharge line communicating with the interior ofsaid tank at its lower end, a piston reciprocable in said tank andhaving fluid tight sealing engagement therewith, a rigid, straight andinflexible piston rod secured at its lower end to said piston, a spiderfixedly secured to and mounted on said piston rod, spring meansconnected to said spider and yieldingly urging the piston downwardly insaid tank, actuating means connected to said piston rod for lifting thelatter and the piston with a straight line motion against the resistanceof said spring means, limit means including an actuator fixedly mountedon said piston rod controlling the operation of said actuating means andthereby limiting the upper. and lower limits of the piston stroke insaid tank, said actuating means including an electric motor and anelectrical circuit connected thereto, a winch drivingly connected tosaid motor, a cable connected to said winch and to said piston rod, saidlimit means including upper and lower limit switches mounted on saidmounting means adjacent said piston rod and disposed in said circuit andcontrolling the operation of said motor, said actuator consisting of aprojection extending laterally of said piston rod and movable betweensaid limit switches and actuating the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS272,343 Smith et al Feb. 13, 1883 846,750 Lindfors Mar. 12, 19071,287,496 Stanek Dec. 10, 1918 1,391,817 Atherton Sept. 27, 19211,489,986 Davison Apr. 8, 1924 1,616,219 Franklin Feb. 1, 1927 1,927,831Hild Sept. 26, 1933 2,015,436 Nemes et al Sept. 24, 1935

